A groundbreaking pathology technology developed within the NHS is set to reach laboratories worldwide after Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust secured a commercial partnership with global cancer diagnostics company Epredia.
The technology, known as TANGO, is a world-first laboratory quality tool created by researchers at the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative, based at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The innovation is designed to improve the consistency of pathology slide staining, a critical step in cancer diagnosis that underpins the effectiveness of digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
The agreement marks a significant milestone for NHS-led innovation, paving the way for wider adoption of TANGO across the NHS and international healthcare systems while attracting further investment into the UK health technology sector.
Many cancer diagnostic tests rely on staining techniques that make cells visible under a microscope. However, small variations in staining quality can affect how results are interpreted and reduce the performance of AI-driven diagnostic systems. TANGO addresses this challenge through a specially designed reference slide that acts as a quality control measure during the staining process.
By helping laboratories achieve more consistent results, the technology supports faster, more reliable diagnostics and strengthens the foundations for AI-enabled pathology services.
Professor David Brettle, Chief Scientific Officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“This is a proud moment for Leeds and for the NHS. TANGO was developed to offer a powerful solution in digital pathology to support clinical practice and this shows how ideas developed on the frontline in the NHS can grow into innovations with global impact. By partnering with Epredia, we now have an opportunity to deploy this technology across the NHS and far wider, helping laboratories to adopt AI-enabled cancer diagnostics and ultimately provide patients with quicker results.”
TANGO was developed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals clinicians and researchers Professor David Brettle, Professor Darren Treanor and Dr Catriona Dunn, who identified a common challenge affecting pathology laboratories around the world.
The commercialisation agreement will see Epredia incorporate TANGO into a new generation of pathology slide products. As the world's largest manufacturer of diagnostic glass slides, Epredia will leverage its global distribution network and expertise in pathology consumables to bring the technology to laboratories adopting digital pathology workflows.
The partnership combines NHS innovation with industry-scale manufacturing and distribution, creating a route for widespread deployment of the technology while generating economic opportunities in the UK.
TANGO joins Epredia's wider portfolio of cancer diagnostics technologies, which already includes the E1000 Dx Digital Pathology Solution, capable of producing high-resolution digital images from up to 1,500 tissue samples each day, and the SlideMate Laser Printer, which supports improved sample tracking and laboratory efficiency.
The National Pathology Imaging Co-operative has played a central role in taking TANGO from concept to commercial product. Building on early development work undertaken at the University of Leeds, NPIC helped transform the innovation into a market-ready solution and demonstrated its effectiveness within real-world pathology environments.
Epredia is expected to begin integrating TANGO into new laboratory slide products from late 2026. The agreement is also forecast to deliver returns for the NHS through reinvestment in Leeds-based health innovation activities, while creating specialist roles in product development, validation and commercialisation.
For NHS leaders, the deal represents a powerful example of how frontline clinical challenges can be translated into globally scalable innovations that improve patient care, accelerate diagnostic pathways and strengthen the UK's position as a leader in health technology.
Image credit: iStock
